"The first thing you need to understand is that the three points I raised earlier are placebos mostly, especially the second one. The point system is just a valueless currency on its own."

Darius tapped on the Spark Potions on the table. "That is why every reward here will be given a value according to our point system before being displayed."

Carlton's eyes shined, but he quickly suppressed it. "While I do applaud your brain for coming up with such a system, I can't help but find flaws with it. What if someone, say an Adept, tries to play clever and farm endless amounts of Amateur or Journeyman Undead to redeem your rewards?"

"You might be able to pay it for one such person, but what if many do the same? It would be catastrophic if the team who killed the Stonekeeper returns asking for their reward, but you would have already lost it all to those abusing the system."

Darius chuckled. "Excellent points, Sir Carlton, but you are forgetting one thing."

"The main point of my commission is to kill Marasmus, and that is exactly where the priority lies. The point system is just something to galvanize many parties to head into the Plains of Death and create murky waters, so that those who are truly skilled can fish in them." Darius explained while tapping the table with a finger lightly.

Carlton's eyes glowed once more, this time not suppressing it anymore. "So you plan to give these items absurd points values?"

Darius nodded. "Exactly. They will be priced to give greedy fellows hope without making it easy to abuse. Ideally, they will see that if they have the power it would be more worthwhile to fight stronger Undead."

"As for getting the higher factions... I assume it's fair to say that by just posting the mission, some might attempt to clear it, but most would sit back and watch. After all, unlike you, they cannot verify the quality of the items I've put on display."

Darius laughed playfully. "But isn't there an easy solution for that? Please send all of these items to the capital's main branch and allow any interested party to inspect them. Once they verify the quality, do you think any of them would dare to sit on their asses and let this chance pass by?"

Carlton nodded repeatedly. "So far, so good. However, as you might be aware, there are many kinks for us to iron out before this can work."

Darius agreed. "Of course. Let's start with the compliance and remuneration for your guild. I'm willing to provide 7 Spark Potions and 7 Scrolls of Awakening a week from now."

"Secondly, the method of protection. I believe your guild has enough strength to keep evil parties from stealing or claiming these goods, but to be safe, you can mention that you're transporting precious items by a Master stage expert."

Darius opened his hands in a helpless gesture. "After all, who in their right mind would believe that an Adept could make such high-quality products? It would be better to spin it as a mission from a higher stage expert from another empire."

"Finally, in the case of any unexpected event that creates a situation in which my rewards do - in fact - run short, redirect them to my shop which is opening in the town at the end of the month."

Darius tapped the scrolls and potions on the table with a soft smile. "I intend to sell items like the ones you see before you. They can redeem their points there if necessary. They're also free to select other items."

Done with his proposal, Darius laid back in his seat and left Carlton to think. The older man pondered for a bit, before rising to his feet and grabbing a parchment from his table.

He spoke onto the parchment and threw it out the window. Both Gunner and Darius watched in awe, as the parchment hung there like it was floating. Not only that, Carlton seemed to be speaking into it while Darius and Gunner could make out some words from where they sat.

After 5 minutes, Carlton nodded his head and turned his body as the parchment burned away into ash by itself. He sat down before Darius with a wide smile and stretched his hand out.

"The Mercenary Guild of Andrato Kingdom is pleased to be working with you, Baron Stone."

............

Darius left the Mercenary Guild with a heavy heart.

As a businessman, he understood that there were times when one had to take risks, and this time, he was probably taking the biggest. To the uninformed, those negations might seem to have gone smooth, but in reality, they had been anything but...

In the eyes of the Mercenary Guild, as well as his own, he had acted like a rich sucker. He had paid up far too much for what was just the first phase of his plan.

To have tentatively wasted 2 weeks' worth of CP, especially when they were a form of capital which he could have used to increase his options, just this really miffed the fellow. However, he didn't have the luxury to bargain or play around, this Quest was too brutal.

At 100 times the average difficulty… only 56 'successful' paths of 1.2 billion… there was no room for comfort or playing around. Still, once he became a Journeyman, everything would be different then.

His CP cap would increase, there would be fewer restrictions on the ability, and he would gain a new ability from the Itemancer class. That was not even mentioning the power increase in terms of stats he could gain and most importantly, the endless spells he would be able to access!

Darius' eyes shined with greed as his lust over the stage increase, but he quelled it. Thinking of what he could gain if he succeeded, his exorbitant spending in achieving it felt less irksome.

Darius returned to The Great Escape Inn with Gunner. In his original plan, he and Gunner would head out later today to get closer to the zone and check on Poleria Homestead as well as Foldo's work.

However, he now had to wait in the town for the mission to be advertised and sent out, as well as to create the items he had promised the Mercenary Guild as remuneration.

Since it was just about afternoon, Darius had lunch with Gunner in the dining area then returned to their room to rest and await the grand show.